Commercial Radio Operator License Program: Types of Licenses: 2nd Class Radiotelegraph

Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate (T2)

Description

The T2 authorizes the holder to operate, repair, and maintain ship stations, and to repair and maintain coast radiotelegraph stations in the maritime services. It also confers all of the operating authority of the T3 and MP.

Qualifications

To qualify, you must:

be a legal resident of (or otherwise eligible for employment in) the United States; and
be able to receive and transmit spoken messages in English; and
pass a written and/or telegraphy examination(s) as described below under Examinations.

Term of License

The T2 is issued for a period of five (5) years. These licenses may be renewed at any time within the last ninety (90) days of their term up until five years following expiration without having to re-take an examination. After the five-year grace period expires, applicants must retake the requisite written and/or telegraphy examination(s). An expired certificate is not valid for any radio operations.

How to Obtain a License

Submit FCC Form 605 along with the appropriate Proof of Passing Certificates (for the requisite written and/or telegraphy examination elements) to apply. Use the FCC Form 605 and the FCC Form 159 (fee processing form) to renew your license or to replace a lost, stolen, or mutilated license. Many Commercial Operator License Examination Managers (COLEMs) file these documents for applicants who test with them. Ask your COLEM if it provides this service to its customers.

Photographs Required for Radiotelegraph Licenses and Six Months Service Endorsements

Examinations

To obtain an FCC Commercial Operator License, applicants must submit, to the Commission, proof of passing written and telegraphy Elements as illustrated in the following table.

View License Comparison Chart	Written Elements								Telegraphy Elements
Type of License	1	3	5	6	7	7R	8	9	1	2	3	4
Second Class Radiotelegraph Operator's Certificate

Written Examination Elements

Element 1 - Basic radio law and operating practice with which every maritime radio operator should be familiar. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 18 out of 24 questions.
Element 5 - Radiotelegraph Operating Procedure. Radio operating procedures and practices generally followed or required in communicating by means of radiotelegraph stations. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 38 out of 50 questions.
Element 6 - Advanced Radiotelegraph. Technical, legal, and other matters applicable to the operation of all classes of radiotelegraph stations. To pass, an examinee must correctly answer at least 75 out of 100 questions.

Telegraphy Examinations Elements

Element 1 -16 code groups per minute.
Element 2 - 20 words per minute.

Telegraphy exams may consist of both transmitting and receiving tests or just a receiving test. Although the FCC rules provide that passing a telegraphy receiving examination is adequate proof of an examinee's ability to both send and receive telegraphy, a COLEM may nonetheless include a sending segment in a telegraphy examination. Examinees must copy by ear and, if subject to a sending test, send by hand plain text and code groups in the international Morse code using all the letters of the alphabet, numerals 0-9, period, comma, question mark, slant mark, and prosigns AR, BT, and SK. Examinees must copy and send at the required speeds for one continuous minute without making any errors. Each test lasts approximately five minutes. The failing of any code test automatically terminates the examination. Code speeds are computed using five letters per word or code group. Punctuation symbols and numbers count as two letters each.

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Last reviewed/updated on

3/26/2010.